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How to INTERVIEW a Wedding Pro!
You’ve been looking at wedding pros on Wedding Wire and The Knot. Wedding coordinators, photographers, florists, the list goes on. Maybe you’ve met a few at a wedding expo and identified a few you like. You’ve reached out and scheduled calls. Great! Now, what do you ask them?
You’ve probably never been married before, so you may not know what you don’t know. You’ve probably never hired a wedding planner, DJ, or other wedding pro. How will you know if you’re speaking to the person you should hire for one of the most important days of your life?
Here are tips on what to do or ask to prepare BEFORE the call. And five questions you can ask DURING the call, and what to consider AFTER the call. It's a start. You will think of other things.
BEFORE the call prep:
1. Before you schedule any calls with any vendors have a conversation with the person you are marrying. Decide how much help you need. Are you going to do most of the planning? Do you need help with researching and hiring vendors? Which vendors do you need? The answers to these questions will determine if you need full or partial planning or month of coordination (event management). Do you need a photographer to take getting ready pictures and to capture the grand exit at the end of the reception? Do you want a DJ or a band? You get the idea.
2. Low key stalk the wedding pro. Look at their social media pages and their website. Are there any ‘real’ reviews from ‘real’ couples? Are their social media pages and website current? In other words, do they look like they are open for business?
3. Ask all of the people who will have financial input to be on the call. If that isn’t possible be prepared to take good notes to share information with them later. Ask them to give you the questions they would like you to ask.
4. Decide on a budget before the call. Many other factors determine whether you will hire them, but budget is also important. You should have an idea of how much you will allocate to each vendor. This is determined by what is most important and necessary for a successful and stress-free wedding day. Beware of shiny objects.
5. Before scheduling the call decide if you are serious about hiring the wedding pro. Many vendors offer complimentary calls, but time is money so make sure you are really going into the call with the intention of really hiring someone. That's fair, right?
6. If you are sent a questionnaire before the call go ahead and fill it out. It will help both of you to move closer to determining if you are a good fit.
Sample questions to ask DURING the call:
1. Tell me about how you work with couples.
2. Do you have a team? Will we be working with you or one of your team members?
3. Is your business set up legally and do you have insurance? This is important because these are required by many venues.
4. How many hours are included on the wedding day?
5. What is your policy on re-scheduling due to COVID-19 or some other unforeseen occurrence?
What to do AFTER the call: Ask yourself:
1. Do I feel like they really heard me? Did I feel a connection? Did our personalities seem to fit?
2. Were my questions answered to my satisfaction? Did they seem knowledgeable?
3. Do they have the experience, testimonials, and credentials (if required)?
4. What would my wedding day look like if I didn’t hire them?
These are example questions and things to consider. Above all, go with your gut. You know when you've met the right or wrong person - for you. Do your homework and trust your judgement. If it feels right, go for it! If it doesn't feel like a fit, say so; no one likes to be ghosted. :-)
Do you need a wedding coordinator or planner? Feel free to schedule a complimentary call with me.
Stay safe,
Rena!
Incorporating these tips will help you narrow down the perfect vendors for you.
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